DPW, Finance commissioners argue over Public Works budgetary needs

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Tensions rose and nerves were strained as Public Works Commissioner Anthony "Skip" Scirocco pleaded his case for putting money into his budget that he said will avert layoffs.

"I don't think they are unreasonable requests," he said of the $177,000 he requested at the City Council's budget workshop Tuesday night. "In the big scheme of things, I don't think it's that much."

Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan, who rejected roughly $785,000 in total requests from Scirocco in putting together the 2013 Comprehensive Budget, argued that "It's not insignificant. It impacts the tax rate." She also said the cut would not mean layoffs.

She and Accounts Commissioner John Franck, using rough estimates, said the $177,000 budget increases, if approved, would represent a little more than a 1 percent increase in the city's tax rate.

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Scirocco said he didn't believe that it would increase the tax rate.

This year's tax rate, if the comprehensive budget passes without change, would be reduced by a minute percentage.

Madigan and Scirocco argued back and forth about the numbers, at times the discussion growing heated.

"If that's what you choose, but I don't think that needs to happen," she replied.

She pointed out that Scirocco's budget is up more than $300,000 over last year's budget.

"Commissioner, you don't have a clue," Scirocco told her.

She pointed out that Scirocco was allocated money at the end of the budget process for 2012 "and your budget is still up by $300,000."

Ivins eventually restored the money to the budget.

In addition, Scirocco requested reducing his revenue line from the sale of city compost from $120,000 to $70,000 for 2013. Scirocco initially said there was "confusion" about the number, which was generated by his department, and at the last City Council meeting called the number "unrealistic."

Madigan said that number would have a further impact on the tax rate.

Franck also presented the Accounts Department budget for 2013, the only department in the city proposing a reduced budget. His budget is proposed at $22,633 less than that of 2012, which was $23,723 less than 2011. The decrease is mostly in professional services lines in his budget, but also saw a $25,000 reduction in an account to provide tax refunds for the previous year.

No changes were made to the budget Tuesday, but in addition to Scirocco's requests, the mayor's department also requested $40,304 in additional expenses, mostly for outside legal services.

If the City Council does not approve a final budget before Nov. 30, the 2013 Comprehensive Budget is automatically adopted.

More budget workshops are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 29 and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1, though the second may not be necessary.